ON THE CGPA MATTER
It is no longer a new semester but the ghost of the previous semester still haunts a lot of people. The notorious “book of life,” which ensures private records of each person’s academic performance is made available to feasting eyes, has not made the case better. Our freshmen are especially the most affected. Each of them, geniuses in their own right, probably ‘headboys’ and class-toppers from secondary school, have now been thrust into a forced unfamiliar romance with failure. The book of life has now engraved a harsh reality into the minds of the freshmen and they have come to learn that the University of Ibadan is no playground that condones lackadaisical attitudes towards studies.
Nevertheless, these lessons should not be kept in a vacuum, while you mourn your woes profusely. It should be applied to the new semester. I have always noted the current freshmen’s questionable disposition towards their work. I would advise you to engage in group discussions on topics in various courses and attend tutorials just as much as you attend classes. Also, get materials and read. Read! Read!! Read!!! You need to approach those at senior levels for guidance. Trust me, I know how useful that could be.
UN-ASSOCIATED ASSOCIATION
The National Association of Philosophy Students, NAPS, is yet to hold any Congress this session and one has to wonder why. It should be an avenue for us philosophers-in-the-making to reason together. But we have no such thing. There has been no way to checkmate the executives to know what exactly is going on. Issues such as our packages and promised magazine should have been discussed a long time ago. Instead of asking on WhatsApp what shirt is the most preferred, it wouldn’t hurt to do so with everyone physically present.
Now, I am not saying the executives are involved in some clandestine shenanigans. I will never say that. But I have no proof that they are not either. I don’t have to walk up to them to find out what they have been up to. There should be a congress. I hereby plead with them to officially call for a Congress. Failure to do that within a span of two weeks from now will surely attract suspicions from not just me but other people too.
The purpose of a Congress is also to foster unity. I keep talking again and again about the need for the executives to bring us all together in oneness. There are some people in this department that I have never met before and that is no fault of mine. Where there is no platform for us to commune, how can I possibly familiarise myself with them?
Also, what happened to the Literary and Debating Society? We need to practicalise our art! This is probably the best club that suits the department. Failure to establish one encourages the widely-held misconception that only Law students deal with argumentation. We do not only study the mind and soul but much more concrete societal issues.
PHILOSOPHERS AND POLITICAL APATHY
Like the protagonists in a comedy skit, some of my colleagues in the press and I comically approached our mates and tried convincing them to get involved in political matters, albeit only at the departmental level. They mostly turned us down.
I remember last session’s press night during which we pressmen drilled the candidates tirelessly. We lambasted them on their weaknesses and kept them on their toes. But, guess what? It was all for nothing! They all ran unopposed. Philosophers, who have been equipped with enough rationality to run the society, shied away from ruling themselves. What use is our enterprise if we cannot use it to lead ourselves? I sincerely hope we do not have a repeat of last session’s apathetic demeanour. If we do not go out to contest, unqualified no-do-goods who are only interested in looting our treasury will run unopposed. Then, we will know what doom really means.
In conclusion, I hope these words are not ignored again. An executive that ignores the press is like the elephant that does not fear the wrath of the thunder. Stay safe.
Kanyinsola Olorunnisola
